1.

Who  are  the  public  officials  who  cannot  practice  law  in  the  Philippines?  
i. Judges  and  other  officials  or  employees  of  the  superior  court  
ii. Officials  and  employees  of  the  Office  of  the  Solicitor  General  
iii. Government  prosecutors  
iv. President,  Vice  President,  members  of  the  cabinet,  their  deputies  and  assistant  
v. Chairmen  and  members  of  the  Constitutional  Commissions  
vi. Ombudsman  and  his  deputies  
vii. Governors,  city  and  municipal  mayors  
viii. Those  who  by  special  law  are  prohibited  from  engaging  in  the  practice  of  their  legal  
profession    
2. Who  are  the  public  officials  with  restrictions  in  the  practice  of  law?  
i. Senators  and  members  of  the  House  of  Representatives  
ii. Sanggunian  members  
iii. Retired  justice  or  judge  (within  one  year  from  date  of  retirement.  The  magistrate  cannot  
practice  law  in  the  particular  court  where  he  performed  his  judicial  duties)  
iv. Civil  service  office  or  employees  without  permit  from  their  respective  department  
heads  
3. What  are  the  restrictions  in  the  practice  of  law  on  members  of  the  legislature?  
i. A  lawyer-­‐member  of  the  legislature  is  prohibited  from  appearing  as  counsel  before  any  
courts  of  justice,  electoral  tribunals  or  quasi-­‐judicial  and  administrative  bodies.  The  
prohibition  includes  the  mere  filing  of  a  motion  or  any  pleading.  
ii. Neither  can  he  allow  his  name  to  appear  in  such  pleading  or  as  part  of  a  firm  name  
under  the  signature  of  another  qualified  lawyer  because  the  signature  of  an  agent  
amounts  to  a  signing  of  a  non-­‐qualified  senator  or  congressman,  the  office  of  an  
attorney  being  originally  of  agency  and  because  he  will,  by  such  act,  be  appearing  in  
court  or  quasi-­‐judicial  or  administrative  body  in  violation  of  the  constitutional  
restriction  
4. What  are  the  restrictions  in  the  practice  of  law  by  Sanggunian  members?  
i. Appear  as  counsel  before  any  court  in  any  civil  case  wherein  a  local  government  unit  or  
any  office,  agency  or  instrumentality  of  the  government  is  the  adverse  party  
ii. Appear  as  counsel  in  any  criminal  case  wherein  an  officer  or  employee  of  the  national  or  
local  government  is  accused  of  an  offense  committed  in  relation  to  his  office  
iii. Collect  any  fee  for  their  appearance  in  administrative  proceedings  involving  the  local  
government  unit  of  which  he  is  an  official  
iv. Use  property  and  personnel  of  the  government  except  when  the  Sanggunian  member  
concerned  is  defending  the  interest  of  the  government  
5. Are  members  of  the  sanggunian  panlalawigan….authorized  to  practice  their  profession,  engage  
in  any  occupation  or  teach  in  schools  outside  session  hours?  Is  there  a  need  for  them  to  secure  
permission?  
i. They  are  required  to  hold  regular  sessions  only  at  least  once  a  week  
ii. The  law  itself  grants  them  the  authority  to  practice  their  professions,  engage  in  any  
occupation  or  teach  in  schools  outside  session  hours  
iii. No  need  for  them  to  secure  prior  permission  
6. Is  a  punong  barangay  forbidden  to  practice  his  profession?  
i. No.  But  he  should  procure  prior  permission  or  authorization  from  the  head  of  his  
department  as  required  by  civil  service  regulations  
i. Secretary  of  Interior  and  Local  Government  
7. What  are  the  restrictions  in  the  practice  of  law  by  retired  justices  and  judges?  
i. Any  civil  case  wherein  the  government  or  any  subdivision  or  instrumentality  thereof  is  
the  adverse  party  
 ii. Any  criminal  case  wherein  an  officer  or  employee  of  the  government  is  accused  of  an  
offense  committed  in  relation  to  his  office  
iii. Collect  any  fees  for  his  appearance  in  any  administrative  proceedings  to  maintain  an  
interest  adverse  to  the  government,  provincial  or  municipal,  or  to  any  of  its  legally  
constituted  officers  
8. In  civil  cases,  may  an  individual  litigant  handle  his  case  personally?  If  the  accused  is  charged  
with  an  offense  punishable  by  more  than  6  month  of  imprisonment,  can  he  defend  himself  
w/out  the  assistance  of  counsel?  
i. Civil  cases,  an  individual  litigant  has  the  right  to  handle  his  case  personally  
ii. In  criminal  cases,  a  layman  must  always  appear  by  counsel  in  grave  and  less  grave  
offenses.  He  cannot  conduct  his  own  defense,  as  his  right  to  counsel  may  not  be  
waived  without  violating  his  right  to  due  process  of  law.  
iii. If  the  accused  is  charged  with  an  offense  not  exceeding  30  days  he  is  allowed  to  defend  
himself  but  if  he  is  charged  with  an  offense  punishable  by  more  than  6  months  
imprisonment  he  must  be  defended  by  counsel  
9. What  are  the  fourfold  duties  of  lawyers?  
i. Duties  to  the:  
i. Society  
ii. The  legal  profession  
iii. The  courts  
iv. The  clients  
v. IN  ACCORDANCE  WITH  THE  VALUES  AND  NORMS  OF  THE  LEGAL  PROFESSION  
10. What  is  the  essence  of  forum  shopping?  
i. The  filing  of  multiple  suits  involving  the  same  cause  of  action,  either  simultaneously  or  
successively,  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  favorable  judgment  
i. Their  first  duty  Is  not  to  their  clients  but  to  the  administration  of  justice  
11. What  is  the  legal  remedy  of  a  lawyer  if  he  is  not  satisfied  with  the  decision  of  the  court?  
i. The  lawyer  may  criticize  the  court’s  ruling  based  on  the  merits  of  the  case  but  he  may  
not  attack  the  personality  of  the  judge.  If  he  is  not  satisfied  with  the  ruing  of  the  
court,  he  may  appeal  from  such  ruling  to  a  higher  court  
12. Define  counsel  de  oficio    
i. A  lawyer  appointed  by  the  court  to  defense  an  accused  who  cannot  afford  to  hire  the  
services  of  counsel  
13. Notary  Public  
i. A  person  appointed  by  the  court  whose  duty  is  to  attest  to  the  genuineness  of  any  
deed  or  writing  in  order  to  render  the  available  as  evidence  of  facts  stated  therein  and  
who  is  authorized  by  the  statute  to  administer  oaths  
14. Qualifications  of  a  Notary  Public  
i. Citizen  of  the  Philippines  
ii. Over  21  years  of  age  
iii. A  resident  in  the  Philippines  for  at  least  one  year  and  maintains  a  regular  place  of  work  
or  business  in  the  city  or  province  where  the  commission  is  to  be  issued  
iv. A  member  of  the  Philippine  bar  in  good  standing  with  clearances  from  the  office  of  the  
bar  confidant  of  the  Supreme  Court  and  the  IBP  
v. Must  not  have  been  convicted  in  the  first  instance  of  any  crime  involving  moral  
turpitude  
15. Jurisdiction  and  term  
i. A  notary  public  may  perform  notarial  acts  in  any  place  within  the  territorial  jurisdiction  
of  the  commissioning  court  for  a  period  of  2  years  starting  from  the  1st  day  of  
January  of  the  year  in  which  the  commissioning  is  made  unless  earlier  revoked  or  the  
Notary  Public  has  resigned  according  to  these  rules  and  the  rules  of  court  
16. What  are  the  exceptions  to  the  general  rule  that  the  Notary  Public  shall  perform  his  notarial  act  
in  his  regular  place  of  work  or  business?  
i. GENERAL  RULE:  Notary  public  shall  not  perform  a  notarial  act  outside  his  jurisdiction  
and  his  regular  place  of  work  or  business  
EXCEPTIONS:  
• Public  offices,  convention  halls  and  similar  places  where  oaths  of  office  may  be  
administered  
• Public  function  areas  in  hotels  and  similar  places  for  signing  of  instruments  or  
documents  requiring  notarization  
• Hospitals  and  medical  institutions  where  a  party  to  the  instruments  or  documents  is  
confined  for  treatment  
• Any  place  where  a  party  to  the  instrument  or  document  requiring  notarization  is  under  
detention  
17. What  should  a  notary  public  do  if  the  affiant  who  signed  the  instrument  is  not  present?  
i. A  person  shall  not  perform  a  notarial  act  if  the  person  involved  as  signatory  to  the  
instrument  or  document  is  not  in  the  notary’s  presence  at  the  time  of  the  notarization  
18. Disqualifications  
i. A  party  to  the  instrument  or  document  
ii. Will  receive,  as  a  direct  or  indirect  result,  any  commission,  fee,  advantage,  right,  title,  
interest,  cash,  property,  or  other  consideration,  except  as  provided  by  there  rules  and  
by  law  
iii. Is  a  spouse,  common-­‐law  partner,  ancestor,  descendant  or  relative  by  affinity  or  
consanguinity  of  the  principal  with  the  fourth  civil  degree  
19. May  a  notary  public  notarize  a  married  couple’s  affidavit  of  legal  separation?  
i. No  because  an  agreement  of  legal  separation  is  contrary  to  law  
20. What  is  an  improper  document?  
i. A  blank  or  incomplete  instrument  or  document  or  without  appropriate  notarial  
certification  
21. Define  amicus  curiae  and  of  counsel  
i. Amicus  curiae-­‐  an  experienced  and  impartial  lawyer  invited  by  the  court  to  appear  and  
help  in  the  disposition  of  the  issues  submitted  to  it.  An  amicus  curiae  appears  in  the  
court  not  to  represent  any  particular  party  but  only  to  assist  the  court  
ii. Of  counsel-­‐  An  experience  lawyer  usually  a  retired  Justice  of  the  Supreme  Court  or  
Court  of  Appeals  employed  by  law  firms  as  consultants  
22. The  act  of  receiving  money  as  acceptance  fee  for  legal  services  and  subsequently  failing  to  
render  such  services  is  a  clear  violation  of  what  Canons  of  the  Code  of  Professional  
Responsibility?  
WHEREFORE, the Court finds respondent Atty. Cornelius M. Gonzales GUILTY of violating
Canons 16, 17, and 18, and Rules 16.01, 16.03, 18.03, and 18.04 of the Code of Professional
Responsibility.
23. What  factors  shall  guide  a  lawyer  in  determining  his  fees?  
i. Time  spent  and  the  extent  of  the  services  rendered  or  required  
ii. Novelty  and  difficulty  of  the  questions  involved  
iii. Importance  of  the  subject  matter  
iv. Skills  demanded  
v. Probability  of  losing  other  employment  as  a  result  of  acceptance  of  the  proferred  case  
vi. Customary  charges  for  similar  services  and  the  schedule  of  fees  of  the  IBP  chapter  to  
which  he  belongs  
vii. Amount  involved  in  the  controversy  and  the  benefits  resulting  to  the  client  from  the  
service  
viii. Contingency  or  certainty  of  compensation  
 ix. Character  of  the  employment,  whether  occasional  or  established  
x. Professional  standing  of  the  lawyer